In [[Grand Theft Auto IV]], the Police Maverick is in turn based on a redone Maverick, and as a result, features a rear slid-doors and a four-blade main rotor. In place of an "invisible" machine gun under the fuselage are two officers seated on both sides of the helicopter, programmed to shoot the player with [[M16|M4A1s]]; its ability to deploy tactical response units has also been dropped in the game. In [[The Ballad Of Gay Tony]], the officers are armed with [[M249|Advanced MGs]] (M249 SAWs) instead. The Police Maverick is slightly faster than a regular Maverick and can turn faster, thus giving it more maneuverability.

In [[Grand Theft Auto IV]], the Police Maverick is in turn based on a redone Maverick, and as a result, features a rear slid-doors and a four-blade main rotor. In place of an "invisible" machine gun under the fuselage are two officers seated on both sides of the helicopter, programmed to shoot the player with [[M16|M4A1s]]; its ability to deploy tactical response units has also been dropped in the game. In [[The Ballad Of Gay Tony]], the officers are armed with [[M249|Advanced MGs]] (M249 SAWs) instead. The Police Maverick is slightly faster than a regular Maverick and can turn faster, thus giving it more maneuverability.

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A police helicopter that appears in the first trailer for [[Grand Theft Auto V]] shares the body of GTA IV's Police Maverick, but with a different paint job to match the [[LSPD in GTA V Era|LSPD]] livery. Following the reveal of [[:File:GTAVLSPDHeli.jpg|a new police helicopter model]] resembling a [[:wp:Eurocopter AS350|Eurocopter AS350]] (which are more common than Bell 206 helicopters in the Los Angeles Police Department) in one of two of the first pre-release screenshots for GTA V, it is currently unknown if the Maverick-based model is slated to exist alongside the new police helicopter, or has been replaced by the AS350-based model.

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A police helicopter that appears in the first trailer for [[Grand Theft Auto V]] shares the body of GTA IV's Police Maverick, but with a different paint job to match the [[LSPD in GTA V Era|LSPD]] livery. Following the reveal of [[:File:PoliceMaverick-GTAV-prerelease-front.jpg|a new police helicopter model]] resembling a [[:wp:Eurocopter AS350|Eurocopter AS350]] (which are more common than Bell 206 helicopters in the Los Angeles Police Department) in one of the first pre-release screenshots for GTA V, it is currently unknown if the Maverick-based model is slated to exist alongside the new police helicopter, or has been replaced by the AS350-based model.

Description

The Police Maverick possess many characteristics of the preceding police helicopter in Grand Theft Auto III. When flown by police units once the player obtains a 3-star wanted level, the helicopter has an "invisible" 25mm machine gun on the fuselage (similar in both sound and power to the M-60(?)), as well as a searchlight, and a loud speaker (used by the police to address the player from the sky) the last feature is absent in Vice City Stories rendition. The helicopter can also airdrop up to four SWAT units on ropes in GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas, GTA Liberty City Stories, and GTA Vice City Stories, when the player's wanted level is 4 or more.

The Police Maverick handles in a similar manner to a normal Maverick, differing only by its ability to pitch steeper than a regular Maverick (especially in games prior to GTA IV). In addition, Police Mavericks obtainable by the player will have no microphone or machine gun fire. the search light is available on the GTA San Andreas rendition (see #Trivia).

In GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas and GTA Vice City Stories, the helicopter is usually always parked on the roof of the main police station of the city. In GTA Liberty City Stories, it is also not available in a normal game, but can be obtained by a third party trainer program. Like the Maverick, the Police Maverick originally featured two rotor blades.

With the exception of GTA San Andreas, two versions of the Police Maverick exist in all its appearances between GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories. Airborne Police Mavericks operated by the police feature its back doors slide back, but the same back doors of Police Mavericks available to the player swing open instead. In GTA Vice City Stories, the slide-door variant retains GTA Vice City's green and white livery while the swing-door variant is only available in a olive/gold and white livery. The slid-door variant is not normally available to the player, but it is possible to spawn a slid-door VCPD Maverick in GTA Vice City Stories through a CheatDevice.

In GTA San Andreas, on random occasions (usually around 21:00 in-game time), a Police Maverick will spawn and will hover above the ganglands of Los Santos with its searchlight on. It can be shot down, however doing so will immediately give the player a 3-star wanted level. During the Los Santos Riots, these random encounters significantly increase.

In GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas and GTA Liberty City Stories, there is no visible pilot flying the helicopter when it is flown by an NPC. This visual goof was rectified in GTA Liberty City Stories by simply having the windows of the helicopter blackened, obscuring the interior; Police Mavericks spawned using a CheatDevice, however, feature transparent windows. In GTA Vice City Stories, there is a pilot appearing as a normal police officer without any pilot gear.

Once the player has destroyed a VCPD Maverick in GTA Vice City Stories, it drops a Pistol and a Nightstick.

GTA Vice City.

GTA Vice City, NPC variant with slide-doors.

GTA San Andreas.

GTA Liberty City Stories, available only through CheatDevices. Unlike other helicopters, the main rotor blades disappear when spinning at full speed.

GTA Vice City Stories, as a "VCPD Maverick".

GTA Vice City Stories, unobtainable slide-door variant available only through CheatDevices.

GTA IV — GTA V

In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Police Maverick is in turn based on a redone Maverick, and as a result, features a rear slid-doors and a four-blade main rotor. In place of an "invisible" machine gun under the fuselage are two officers seated on both sides of the helicopter, programmed to shoot the player with M4A1s; its ability to deploy tactical response units has also been dropped in the game. In The Ballad Of Gay Tony, the officers are armed with Advanced MGs (M249 SAWs) instead. The Police Maverick is slightly faster than a regular Maverick and can turn faster, thus giving it more maneuverability.

A police helicopter that appears in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V shares the body of GTA IV's Police Maverick, but with a different paint job to match the LSPD livery. Following the reveal of a new police helicopter model resembling a Eurocopter AS350 (which are more common than Bell 206 helicopters in the Los Angeles Police Department) in one of the first pre-release screenshots for GTA V, it is currently unknown if the Maverick-based model is slated to exist alongside the new police helicopter, or has been replaced by the AS350-based model.

An LCPD Police Maverick in GTA IV, with a police officer seated on the side ready to take aim at the player.

PoliceMaverick-GTAV-trailer.jpg

A Police Maverick as seen in the first GTA V trailer.

Trivia

GTA Vice City

In GTA Vice City, the red light on the back of airborne Police Mavericks is dislocated, and remain in the same place as its predecessor.

In GTA Vice City, the police pilot voice actor is arguably the most intimidating police pilot in the GTA series.

AI-controlled Police Mavericks during peaceful flyovers and during police pursuits do not feature any pilots. This problem is resolved in the GTA Vice City Stories rendition, where it features a pilot that can be killed via gunshots.

GTA San Andreas

An activated search light on the player's Police Maverick in GTA San Andreas.

GTA San Andreas is the only GTA game to date that allows the player turn on its powerful search light, but its the direction can only be controlled in the PC version - in console versions, it moves in the opposite direction to the movement of the helicopter. The light can only be turned on at night by pressing the left analog stick (Xbox), R2 button (PS2) or Left Shift key (PC).

If the player manages to steal the Police Maverick in GTA San Andreas, the helicopter will remain hostile. For example, if the player parks the helicopter and gets out, the helicopter's underbelly will shoot at the player from the ground; however, this is due to programming limitations.

In GTA San Andreas there is a glitch where if the player is on two player and steals the helicopter and 2nd player flies it it will still remain hostile.

In GTA San Andreas, the mounted gun oddly bypasses any coding that would make the object/character invincible. For instance, it will damage the player even if the "Invincibility" cheat is activated. It also can damage the Rhino, which would be impossible with any other firearm; only molotovs, flamethrowers, and crashing the tank have the ability of damaging the Rhino.

In GTA San Andreas the player is able to steal the Police Maverick chasing them on certain occasions.

In GTA San Andreas, the helicopter will not shoot at the player if he is in any vehicle classified as an aircraft, including the Vortex.

GTA Liberty City Stories

To ensure the player does not manage to gain control of an NPC Police Maverick in GTA Liberty City Stories, the helicopters are programmed to explode upon contact with the player, or fly higher than the player.

While all Police Mavericks have police radios, the GTA Liberty City Stories rendition is equipped with a conventional radio.

GTA Vice City Stories

The Police Maverick in GTA Vice City Stories is the first in all the GTA series (excluding GTA 1, GTA 2, and GTA Advance) not to feature a loudspeaker. Although it has an actual pilot, no comments are ever made towards the player.

Similar to GTA San Andreas, the player is able to steal a Police Maverick chasing them on occasions.

GTA IV

A glitch is present where the Police Maverick will automatically fly away once the player gets out, only to fall from the sky seemingly due to a lack of pilot control; this problem is attributed in the fact that the game still identifies the helicopter as being AI controlled. To prevent this, the player must hold the button/key that is used to exit a vehicle (Y (Xbox 360) or Triangle (PS3)), thereby shutting off the engine. The glitch has been fixed for the PC version of the game.

In GTA IV, it is possible to "disarm" the Police Maverick without killing both sharpshooters, which would cause the helicopter to retreat. Instead, if the player kills one of them, and then shoots the gun out of the other's hands, he will drop it and start shooting with his pistol. You can shoot this one out of his hands, but it is more difficult since it is smaller. Be sure to shoot the actual gun, and not his hands, and this will eventually kill him. Also, crouch down to increase accuracy.

It is possible to use the Police Maverick to obtain the One Man Army Achievement in GTA IV. First, the player has to obtain a six star wanted level either using cheats or by killing civillians and destroying vehicles. Once the six stars have been obtained, the player is to fly the Police Maverick as high as they can while at the same time making sure thay they stay inside the search radius. Wait five minutes and the player should gain the achievement.

Locations

On roof of the Downtown and Washington Beach police stations (before and after mission From Zero To Hero)

GTA IV

Only obtainable by sniping the pilot, making the helicopter slowly hover to the ground undamaged. It only works 5/10 times. Also obtainable by an even more frustrating process in which the helicopter is disabled at a low enough altitude that all occupants live, and then the chopper is pushed into a safehouse parking spot. That method works less often than the previous. Other than that, you can only fly the Police Maverick in multiplayer race mode.

Note that If the player manages to lure the helicopter over the pond in Middle Park, it will be easier to obtain, although the helicopter must have an open space and the water must be shallow.

During the mission "Not So Fast", you can steal a Police Maverick when you have to climb back on to the roof to get back in Yusuf's Buzzard by waiting a few seconds, when a Police Maverick will land on the roof.